Best power increases

Trying to make the most out of my F2P experience. Other then training troops 24/7, what do you feel is the best strategy to increasing power the fastest?

Right now I’m focusing on town center upgrades; so once one completes, I only do what I need to get the next one. Then while it’s upgrading I do other upgrades like my barracks, and Tavern to increase hero levels.

I buy every available hero xp item I can through the mini-games, alliance store, everywhere I see them. Keeping one-two sets of troops close to max to my level.

Research I’m pushing one troop up a level at a time, using the most direct path, then working backward to fill the 3/5 stuff to 5/5 for the buffs.

What else can I do, or what can I change to increase progression rate?